Portsmouth D Day Flypast

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frank
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Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by frank »

Not sure if this goes here.
Portsmouth News says there will be a 26 aircraft flypast over Southsea Common on June 5th . Includes the Red Arrows but not reported what else will be in flypast.
Anyone know more ?

farnboroughrob
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by farnboroughrob »

As the Queen and Trump will be present I would expect some USAF participation (F-15's and KC-135?), some modern day RAF equipment , reds and BBMF, maybe something from France?

Berf
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by Berf »

5 June
To signify the importance of Portsmouth’s role in the Normandy Landings as a major embarkation point for the Allied forces, there will be a series of events commencing on the 5 June.

At 11:30am The D-Day 75 National Commemorative Event will take place on Southsea Common. Veterans will join today’s Armed Forces and VIPs for a BBC programme of live music, performance and flypasts. Large screens will be provided on the common for members of the public who wish to watch the event.

At 12:45pm (approx) A Royal Navy frigate will fire a naval gun salute followed by a spectacular flypast of up to 25 historic and modern RAF aircraft including the Red Arrows and the iconic spitfire.

At 4:00pm The Red Arrows will return for a breath-taking display of speed and agility above Southsea Common.

At 6:25pm The Royal British Legion’s specially chartered ship, the MV Boudicca, will set sail from Portsmouth with 300 veterans to Normandy. HMS St Albans, a Type-23 Royal Navy frigate, will escort the MV Boudicca along with four smaller Royal Navy vessels. Royal Navy ships docked in port will pay their respects, before the ship emerges into the Solent to be met by a flotilla of Royal Navy vessels who will sail past her in salute with sailors lining the decks. Members of the public are encouraged to line key vantage points to wave off the veterans as they retrace the journey they made in 1944.

At 7:40pm (approx) The RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over Portsmouth to mark the departure of The Royal British Legion’s ship.

BossMann
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by BossMann »

As mentioned on the RAF Cosford Airshow thread - if only they could repeat this flypast at RAF Cosford which is only 4 days after this!

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sdad
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by sdad »

The point about flypasts is that they commemorate people and places. They are not intended as airshow entertainment.

melvyn hiscock
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by melvyn hiscock »

The level of security in place as a result of the US Presidential visit will also make it close to impossible to see anything worthwhile.

It is not even worth visiting the D-Day museum in Portsmouth which is quite appalling since it's (expensive) makeover and it leaves out large portions of the story, such as the bombardment fleet that enabled the men to get ashore. My dad was part of that force, along with 180,000 men, and his own home city's museum has wiped him from the story (it is as bad when talking about other aspects of the local story, such as no mention of the busiest airfield in the country at Lee on Solent, no mention of the importance of the railway line along the Meon Valley etc etc etc.)

In addition to this, had Dad lived long enough for this, he would have been excluded from the very beaches he helped liberate as he was on HMS Hawkins, as part of the joint fleet, bombarding Omaha and Utah and would have had to go ashore to get the Americans off Utah if they had failed to get a foothold, as they very nearly did. He would have been a sniper covering the retreat so would have not made it. To prevent men like him attending in their twighlight years (those that are left) is a travesty.

I shall be well away from all of it, having a great time in France, at La Ferte Alais, and on 6 June we shall raise a glass to the old man and all of his comrades from all of the countries that took part with his traditional toast of 'Bo**ocks'. You are all inviited to join in, wherever you are.

Bill Hiscock, 1924-2012, Royal Marine, HMS Hawkins. Quietly being wiped from history.

MiG_Eater
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by MiG_Eater »

That's quite a post Melvyn.

I hope you can take some solace in the knowledge that were it not for your father's actions, history may indeed have unfolded very differently indeed; whatever the history books or museums might omit.

After all, it is what is done that is important - even if it is not always remembered. :up:

melvyn hiscock
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by melvyn hiscock »

Thanks, he'd have appreciated that.

I was really agreeing with the previous post, this is not about it being an airshow, but the sad fact it is not even really about us in any way either, it is a political back slapping exercise.

I find it very sad that some of those few that are left will be denied a chance to go to where they served because the big wigs (and I use that term with tongue in cheek) are busy shoring up the place so that no one can see them.

Security, in this day and age, is important, but there is an element of overkill (no pun intended) here.

Melvyn

disgruntled
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by disgruntled »

Hi Melvyn
I’m sorry that you feel like that. It’s true, there are many who did so much who get forgotten about along the way. As a serving Royal may I suggest you contact your local RMA? There will be people there in a similar position to you and if nothing else you could feel part of the Corps’ family again. I know both the RMA and 47 Cdo Association have several events taking place in Normandy over the DDay anniversary, focussing on the actions to retake Port en Bessain, but commemorating all of the Corps’ actions during the landings. If you’d like to PM me I would be more than happy to try to put you in touch with someone who might be able to help.

I can tell your are justifiably proud of your connections with the Corps and I know you will always be made welcome as part of the Corps Family.

OARMAARM

melvyn hiscock
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by melvyn hiscock »

Disgruntled, many thanks for that. - and for everyone else, sorry for the thread drift.

My dad volunteered a few days before his legal birthday in 1942. His dad had employed him on building repairs which was a reserved occupation but the old man was not happy so he joined up. He said for years that he didn't know whether to go into the Army or Navy but decided on the Royal Marines but that is not true. The true story was that his father was not the best of men and his uncle Victor was more of a father to him and his uncle, my great uncle, Victor had been a career Royal Marine and had been at Zebrugge, so dad followed him in.

Right up until he could not get around anymore he made a point of being at the remembrance service at either Lee on Solent or in Stubbington, where he lived and would always say hello and shake hands with any 'Booty' he met. The last photo of him we have when he was outside was at the service in 2011 when he is saluting an RM officer. Incidentally, he was in France for the 50th, almost dead with heart disease, and insisted on marching for the Queen as the King had taken the salute from the ships off Normandy and he wanted to pay him back for his bravery by parading for his daughter.

Now, this is REAL thread drift, but some of you may find this interesting.

He got very ill in May 2012 and almost went but rallied. I was due to go to La Ferte Alais, and that year I was doing some English commentary alongside the famous/infamous Bernard Chabbert. Dad told me that I had made a commitment so I was going, and insisted I take some petrol money to help. So, I drove down and did the Saturday and called Mum on the Sunday morning to see how he was, she said he had been fine on Friday but a little quiet on Saturday, but had had a few visitors and was probably knackered.

About 2/3 way through the show on the Sunday I started to get endless text messages from my brothers asking me to call, when I got a chance I called and was told we had lost him that morning. He would never have wanted me to stop work just because of something that minor, so I carried on and, at the end of the show, when Bernard was doing his wrap up, I got a bit of dust in my eye, or hay fever or something and the eyes watered. Gilbert Courtois and his lovely wife Brigitte do the sound and she asked what was wrong and I told her and she hugged me and would not let go. Gilbert was standing there saying 'Merde, Merde' and Bernard kept talking.

I got a piece of paper and wrote on it, 'in memory of Bill Hiscock, 1924-2012' and gave it to Bernard and he put it to one side.

I have known Bernard a long time and we had spoken about Dad being in hospital, we had also mentioned him in previous years and then I heard Bernard say, in French,

'ladies and gentlemen, as you know I have been working with Melvyn this weekend, you know his background, guitarist, guitar maker, book writer, pilot, aircraft rebuilder and journalist, what you may not know was Melvyn's father was a Royal Marine on HMS Hawkins bombarding Omaha and Utah beaches on 6 June 1944. We have just heard that he has died today and we dedicate todays show to his memory.'

Although people were leaving, there were still a LOT of people there and I looked down the lines to see literally hundreds of Frenchmen with their hands above their heads applauding my dad and the hayfever got a lot worse.

That was a helll of a thing to see, and will do me. I will be in La Ferte this year too, but really appreciate the heads up on the RMA link if I had stayed in Portsmouth.

And please, raise a toast to the old bu**er anytime you feel like it.

Melvyn

jules48
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by jules48 »

Doubt if the Reds will make it.They are onlf way through their overseas training to obtain their PDA.

3enrique
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by 3enrique »

jules48 wrote:Doubt if the Reds will make it.They are onlf way through their overseas training to obtain their PDA.


It's in the program, why wouldn't they?

Logster
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by Logster »

Reds are due to display at Torbay on the weekend before (1st display of the season) so sure it won't be a problem.

frank
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by frank »

frank wrote:Not sure if this goes here.
Portsmouth News says there will be a 26 aircraft flypast over Southsea Common on June 5th . Includes the Red Arrows but not reported what else will be in flypast.
Anyone know more ?


Many thanks to all for their comments in this post. Coming back to my OP, does anyone know what specifically will be in the flypast.

3enrique
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by 3enrique »

frank wrote:Many thanks to all for their comments in this post. Coming back to my OP, does anyone know what specifically will be in the flypast.


Have there been any updates on the participating aircraft? I hope there will be some Americans and even French and not just British. HMS Queen Elizabeth is also in Portsmouth, it would be nice to see her too.

jules48
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by jules48 »

Its a RAF Flypast.Why would the USAF be involved.And as for security everyone knows all the movements beforehand as its posted on the relevant forums.

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CJS
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by CJS »

Yeah, why would there be American aircraft taking part in a D-Day event? I mean, they weren't even there were they?

#iknowtheyreplanningtheirownflypast
You can't polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter.

frank
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Re: Portsmouth D Day Flypast

Post by frank »

jules48 wrote:Its a RAF Flypast.Why would the USAF be involved.And as for security everyone knows all the movements beforehand as its posted on the relevant forums.



That is just incredibly helpful
many thanks
:dizzy:

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